Kao (island)

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Kao
NASA satellite image (Geocover 2000) Kao is the smaller island southwest of which lies Tofua
NASA satellite image (Geocover 2000)
Kao is the smaller island
southwest of which lies Tofua
Waters Pacific Ocean
Archipelago Ha'apai
Geographical location 19 ° 40 ′ 0 ″  S , 175 ° 2 ′ 0 ″  W Coordinates: 19 ° 40 ′ 0 ″  S , 175 ° 2 ′ 0 ″  W
Location of Kao
length 5.2 km
width 3.2 km
surface 11.6 km²
Highest elevation Kao
1030  m
Residents uninhabited
main place Topuefio

Kao is a small volcanic island in the South Pacific and part of the island state of Tonga . It is located in the western Ha'apai group and 3.4 km northeast of the larger neighboring island of Tofua . Kao is about 5 km long, 3 km wide and has an area of ​​11.6 km². The island consists of a volcanic cone rising steeply from the sea and is the highest point in Tonga with a height of approx. 1,030 m (1,046 m).

An eruption of the volcano has not yet been documented. However, since there are no signs of advanced erosion , the volcano must have been geologically active until recently. The lower slopes of Kaos are forested, while the upper part is bare.

The only slightly flatter area of ​​the island is in the southwest, there is also the settlement of Topuefio . However, according to the 2006 census, there are no permanent residents.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ UNEP
  2. ↑ a b Kao in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English)
  3. ↑ a b Topographic map of Tofua and Kao (pdf, 1.2 MB)
  4. ↑ Census Tonga 2006 (pdf)